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METHODIST 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 






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BRIEF HISTORY 



Methodist Episcopal Church 



WELLFLEET, MASSACHUSETTS. 



BY 

REV. ALBERT P. PALMER. 
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PUBLISHED BY THE LEADERS AND STEWARDS. 



BOSTON: 

FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & COMPANY. 
1877. 



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TO THE 

LEADERS AND STEWARDS 

OF THE 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH IN WELLFLEET, MASS., 

ARE AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. 

A. P. PALMER. 

Wellflbet, January, 1877. 



PREFACE. 



In our Quarterly Conference held in March, 1876, it 
was voted to purchase a new church record ; and the pastor 
was invited to transcribe the names, and re-write a history 
of the church to insert therein. The hook was immediately 
procured, and the transcription made. But in the matter 
of history, using the facts recorded by former pastors, and 
such as he could gather from the oldest living members, 
the writer became very much interested, and soon found he 
was exceeding the limit for insertion in the record. Mak- 
ing this known to the official members and others, they 
said, " Go on, and we will have it printed. All of our 
people, at home and abroad, will be pleased to get a copy." 
Acting on this advice, and thinking it would appear as a 
small pamphlet, while preaching two sermons each sabbath, 
and doing other work as a pastor, he continued to use 
what means he had for gathering information, and has 
written the history as best he could with his limited time 
and ability, presenting it to the leaders and stewards. 
They publish it as it here appears. Knowing that our 
oldest members are fast passing away, and the facts in the 
history of our church which they can give must be noted 
very soon, or be lost, and hoping to inspire some of our 
members by calling up the glorious past, the writer has 
cheerfully performed this labor. There are many imper- 
fections in the volume, and he does not claim for it the 



b PREFACE. 

dignity of a full history ; but believes all his statements to 
be correct. 

Rev. S. W. Coggeshall, D.D., has given valuable assist- 
ance ; and most of the former pastors now living have very 
kindly responded to the call for particulars concerning their 
labors here, and personals. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
From 1797 to 1806. page. 
First Preachers making Occasional Visits. — First Class of Three 
Members. — First Leader. — Two Revivals 3 

CHAPTER n. 
From 1807 to 1811. 
Harwich Circuit.— Wellfleet and Truro. — Joel Steele, Erastus Otis, 

and Joseph A. Merrill 7 

CHAPTER III. 

From 1812 to 1814. 

Robert Arnold. — Elias Marble. — Bartholomew Otheman . .11 

CHAPTER IV. 
From 1815 to 1817. 
Thomas C. Pierce. — Orin Roberts and Benjamin Keith. — Great Re- 
vival. — A Church built. — Charles Virgin. — B. R. Hoyt. — 
George Picketing 15 

CHAPTER V. 

From 1818 to 1821. 

Ephraim Wiley. — Edward Hyde. — F. Upham. — First Camp-Meeting 

on the Cape in 1819, followed by Revivals in Provincetown and 

Eastham. — Second Camp-Meeting in 1820, followed by Revivals 

in Wellfleet and Truro. — Wilbur Fiske. — B. R. Hoyt ... 21 

CHAPTER VI. 
From 1822 to 1828. 
Leonard Bennett. — S. G. Atkins. — Lewis Bates and Joel Steele. — 
Revival. — New Parsonage. — First Sunday school. — Wellfleet 
Station 28 



o TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. 
From 1829 to 1836. page. 
B. F. Lambord. — N. S. Spaulding. — Squire B. Hascall. — Hector 
Brownson and Warren Emerson. — Church Edifice enlarged. — 
Revival 33 

CHAPTER VIII. 
From 1837 to 1843. 
Heman Perry. — I. M. Bidwell. — Horace Moulton. — Paul Townsend. 
Jonathan Cady. — Great Revival. — Church removed and enlarged, 38 

CHAPTER IX. 
From 1844 to 1852. 
G. W. Stearns. — J. Lovejoy. — C. C. Munger. — Samuel Fox. — John 
Howson. — Revivals. — New Parsonage 45 

CHAPTER X. 
From 1853 to 1864. 
J. E. Gifford.— E. Benton. — E. K. Colby.— E. H. Hatfield. — J. 
Mather. — J. Howson. — A. N. Bodfish. — Revivals. — Church 
Enlarged 51 

CHAPTER XI. 
From 1865 to 1868. 
W. V. Morrison. — Revival. — Charles Nason. — Providence Annual 
Conference held in Wellfleet. — Conversions. — Loss of Schooner 
4 Ellery C. Anthony." — Death of Aged Members . . . .57 

CHAPTER XII. 

From 1869 to 1874. 

Walter Ela. — A. J. Church. — C. S. Macreading. — Revival . . 62 

CHAPTER XIII. 

From 1875 to 1876. 

A. P. Palmer. — Revival. — Conclusion. — List of Pastors . .67 

APPENDIX. 
The Gross Family. — M. E. Church in South Wellfleet .... 72 



HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

WELLFLEET, MASS. 



CHAPTER I. 

First Preachers making Occasional Visits. — First Class of Three 
Members. — First Leader. — Two Kevivals. 

From the " Life of Rev. Joseph Snelling," written 
by himself, we learn that Rev. William Humbert, a 
local preacher, was the first Methodist minister who 
preached in Provincetown. " He was captain of a 
vessel, and, when on a voyage from New York to St. 
John's, put in to Provincetown harbor, and, being 
windbound, continued there several days," preaching 
each evening. Rev. George Cannon was stationed 
there in 1795 ; and this, we are informed, was very 
soon after Mr. Humbert's visit. Mr. Cannon labored 
successfully, and formed a society. When they de- 
cided to have a meeting-house, they went to some 
other place, and purchased a frame all fitted to raise, 
and brought it to their village in a vessel, leaving 
it on the shore over night ; but before morning it 
was cut up and carried off by some of their persecu- 



10 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

tors. Not discouraged by this, they soon had another 
frame, and succeeded in erecting it by keeping guard 
at night. 

The next preacher was Rev. Joseph Snelling, who 
preached on the sabbath, a part of the time, at Truro. 
He was followed by Rev. Robert Yallalee, who was 
the first minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
who preached in Wellfleet. He came here several 
times on invitation in the early part of 1797. 

/y/* After him, in these occasional visits, came 
Revs. Jacob Rickhow, Smith Weeks, John Broad- 
head, Joseph Snelling, Edward Whittle, Allen H. 
Cobb, Philip Munger, and Elijah Willard, all of 
whom were devout, self-sacrificing men of God. 
Some of our mothers in Israel can well remember all 
of them except the first two ; and some of their 
names are particularly endeared to New England 
Methodists. They all " rest from their labors, and 
their works do follow them." 

The first Methodist class in Wellfleet was organ- 
ized in 1802, consisting of three members, — Abigail 

o Gross, Thankful Rich, and Lurana Higgins. 

Noble, faithful women, this church owes 
much to their fervent prayers and Christian zeal. 
Thankful Rich died triumphantly May 1, 1815, aged 
fifty-nine years. She was a deeply pious woman. 
One grandson and a great-great-grandson are living 
among us. Abigail Gross was a noble woman of 
superior abilities, wholly devoted to God. She was 
very efficient in the church, and was the mother of 
fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew up to 
manhood and womanhood, and were members of the 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 11 

Methodist Episcopal Church, and two are yet living. 
She died in great peace in 1835, aged eighty-seven 
years. Lurana Higgins, daughter of Thomas and 
Abigail Gross, died in the Lord, July 17, 1856, in 
the ninetieth year of her age. She was closely iden- 
tified with our church all through her life, and lived 
to see the little class of three increased to over three 
hundred. She was the mother of ten children, and 
cheerfully gave one of her daughters to participate 
in the joys and trials of the itinerancy, to die far from 
home, and be buried among strangers. Three of her 
daughters are yet living, of whom two are among 
our oldest members. 

" Of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was 
born in her ; and the Highest himself shall establish 
her." The earliest history of this little class proves 
that it was a branch of the Church of God. The 
numbers were soon increased to ten ; and Ephraim 
Higgins was the first appointed leader. 

Brother Higgins was a true Christian, and con- 
tinued as class-leader in this church for over forty 
years. In his last sickness he resigned this office, 
and March 28, 1846, was called home. 

His son Enoch was class- leader here for at least 
fifteen years ; and again, Allen Higgins, son of Enoch 
and grandson of Ephraim, has been a leader for many 
years. 

These few met regularly under their leader, and 
ever found the Lord with them. When a gospel 
minister came, they heard the word to be doers also, 
and their prayers and labors were not in vain. Souls 
were converted, and added to their number. With 



12 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

« a history of only two years, in 1804 they saw 

^" a good revival of religion, in which quite a 

number were brought into their fellowship. Two 

R - years later, in 1806, they passed through 
another season of refreshing and ingathering, 
which gave them an influence in the community 
such as they had not known before : they were rec- 
ognized as a promising church. " From this revival," 
say the earliest records, " a gradual increase of reli- 
gious influence followed." Oh that such an influence 
might follow every revival ! — instead of what is 
termed " reaction," a steady increase of interest and 
power. Why may it not be ? 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 13 



CHAPTER II. 

Harwich Circuit. — Well fleet and Truro. —Joel Steele, Erastus Otis, 
and Joseph A. Merrill. 

Wellfleet was made an appointment on the 
Harwich Circuit in 1807, and Rev. Joel Steele - . 
was the preacher in charge. The people 
were delighted to hear the gospel regularly, and 
their first minister was much beloved. He was an 
amiable, humble, and cheerful Christian, a great 
lover of the church and the work to which he was 
called ; and his preaching was plain, earnest, and 
effective. There were a number of conversions here 
and in other parts of the circuit ; and the members 
of the churches were edified and strengthened. 

Joel Steele was born in Tolland, Conn., Aug. 14, 
1782, and was converted in that place, at the age of 
twenty-two or twenty-three, in a revival under the 
labors of the early Methodist preachers. His first 
circuit was Lunenburg, near the Canada line, from 
which he came to Harwich. Twenty years later, in 
1827, he was appointed to Wellfleet station, and 
served this people faithfully for two years. His first 
wife, u a most amiable woman, a lovely wife, and 
an excellent mother," whose society he enjoyed for 
fifteen years, was Jerusha Higgins, daughter of 
Eleazer and Lurana Higgins of Wellfleet ; her mother 



14 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

and grandmother were in the first class of our church. 
After rilling twelve different stations, and travelling 
fourteen different circuits, in which he led many souls 
to Jesus, who will be stars in his crown of rejoicing, 
in 1845 the New England Conference cheerfully gave 
this father in Israel a superannuated relation, in 
which he lived a little more than one year. 

Though suffering much through this year, he was 
very patient, looking forward to the " house not made 
with hands." He said, " My faith is as clear as the 
sun. There is not the shadow of a dimming veil 
or doubt concerning myself or the religion I have 
preached and recommended to others." The day be- 
fore he died, he frequently aroused from his lethargy 
to exclaim, " Glory ! glory to God in the highest ! 
All is well! " On Sunday evening, Aug. 23, 1846, 
in Gloucester, Mass., he sweetly entered into rest. 

Seven of his children are now living (January, 
1877). The two sons are Rev. George M. Steele, 
D.D., President of Lawrence University, at Apple- 
ton, Wis. ; and Rev. Joel A. Steele of the New 
Hampshire Conference. 

Rev. Erastus Otis was the second preacher on 
o £ Harwich Circuit. He was then a young man 
twenty-five years of age, and had been in the 
Conference only three years ; but he evinced a fair 
ability as a preacher, and labored with acceptability 
and some success. There was a larger increase in 
the life of the church than in her numbers. Father 
Otis was born in Canaan, N.H. He joined the New 
England Conference in 1805, and labored in the 
effective ranks nine years, when he located. In 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 15 

1816 he again entered the travelling connection, and 
then served the Master as pastor of various churches, 
and presiding elder for four years, until 1840, when 
he again located. The next year he was re-admitted, 
and returned superannuated, in which relation he 
continued till the day of his death. After thirty- 
three years in the itinerant work, three years as a 
local preacher, and nineteen years as a superannuate, 
he fell asleep in Jesus, Aug. 20, 1860, in Kenosha, 
Wis., aged seventy-six years. 

It is said that Rev. E. O. Haven, D.D., Chancellor 
of Syracuse University, was named for him. 

Rev. Joseph A. Merrill followed Brother Otis in 
1809, and was esteemed a young man of more Q 
than ordinary abilities as a preacher and a ^* 

very earnest worker among his people. There were 
some conversions the first year, but in his ~ 
second year many were added to the church, 
and they were such as proved a help to her. In the 
old record the preacher is called " the faithful under- 
shepherd," through whose labors many souls were 
converted ; and our aged mothers in the church now 
tell of his fervent prayers and earnest preaching. It 
was about this time that Lurana Higgins, now Hol- 
brook ("Aunt Lurana," as we familiarly name her), 
attended the first administration of the Lord's Supper 
which she remembers. It was in the home of Thank- 
ful Rich, and seats were provided for the people by 
placing planks across chairs. Rev. George Pickering, 
then Presiding Elder of Boston District, preached in 
the morning ; and, during the intermission before 
afternoon preaching, administered the elements, in 



16 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH. 

memory of our Lord's death, to the twelve or fifteen 
humble disciples who knelt by those rough seats. 
The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested, so that 
the communicants wept and shouted aloud, and all 
who were present were deeply impressed. 

Wellfleet was joined with Truro the next year, and 
o called the Wellfleet and Truro Circuit ; and 

Brother Merrill was preacher in charge. In 
his public ministrations he gave the pure gospel ; he 
also cared well for the converts of the previous year, 
and visited faithfully from house to house ; and the 
blessing of God was upon all his labors. 

Joseph A. Merrill was born Nov. 22, 1785, in New- 
bury, Mass. He was converted when about nineteen 
years of age, and joined the New England Conference 
in 1807, of which body he was an active and efficient 
member for forty-two years. He served some of the 
most important circuits and stations of his confer- 
ence, and was a presiding elder fifteen years Says 
Dr. Stevens, " He was unwaveringly devoted to the 
great interests of the church, and exerted an impor- 
tant agency in the promotion of its educational plans. 
He was a trustee of the Wesleyan Academy of the 
New England Conference, and of the Wesleyan Uni- 
versity, from their origin till his death. He was a 
chief actor in the anti-slavery conflict of the church, 
and has identified his name with that important move- 
ment." His whole life was one of great activity and 
eminent success. On sabbath morning, July 22, 1849, 
he peacefully and triumphantly passed away. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 17 



CHAPTER III. 

Robert Arnold. — Elias Marble. — Bartholomew Otheman. 

Rev. Robert Arnold came on this circuit in 
1812. He was a retiring, slow-speaking « 
man, evidently studying to "rightly divide 
the word of truth." Without developing great 
strength in any department of his work, he was a 
very good man ; and this church had a few accessions 
under his labors. On the circuit there was an in- 
crease of twelve members during the year : there 
may have been more than that number of conver- 
sions. 

It is said, that, on his way to South Truro one day, 
Brother Arnold stopped and took dinner with The- 
ophilus Newcomb, or " Uncle Thorpe " as he was 
familiarly known. After enjoying a good meal, he 
went quietly on his lone way through the woods, 
until suddenly he came upon something by the side 
of the road, which looked to him very like a wild 
animal ready to spring upon him. He eyed it as 
closely as he could and not approach nearer, then 
retraced his steps, and reported at the house that he 
had seen some sort of a wild animal close by the 
road, and he was timid about going on alone. 
" Well," said Uncle Thorpe, taking down his gun, 
"I'll fix him;" and the two advanced toward Truro. 



18 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

" Well, Brother Arnold, where is the beast ? " was 
several times asked, as they walked on. " Oh ! we 
haven't yet come to the place where I saw him," 
the minister answered, evidently a little annoyed. 
At ]ength, as they were going down into a valley, 
he pointed away to the right, and shouted, " There 
he is : don't you see him ? " Uncle Thorpe looked 
closely, and then said, " See him ? No. That is 
nothing but a pine stump. Come and see." And 
he advanced, and put his hand upon it. " This tree 
was torn up by the roots, and somebody in cutting 
it off has left quite a stump," he added. The good 
man was fully convinced, and laughingly went on to 
his appointment. All the people in Wellfleet and 
Truro soon learned of the incident ; and many allu- 
sions to it were afterwards made in the presence of 
Brother Arnold, who always seemed to enjoy it as 
well as anybody. 

From the Conference minutes we learn that Rob- 
ert Arnold came into the New England Conference 
in 1809, and located in 1814. Further particulars 
could not be obtained. 

Rev. Elias Marble followed Brother Arnold. This 
o was his fourth year in the Conference, and 

**' his second appointment as preacher in charge. 
His sermons were very short, and his mind was evi- 
dently much agitated over some interest outside of 
his work. Within two months after he came on the 
circuit, he said to some of the brethren, " I am sud- 
denly called to Vermont. I must leave all, and go 
immediately." When he had " packed up," a young 
girl, now one of our oldest living members, helped 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 19 

him carry his " bundle " from the ocean side of the 
cape to the wharf where the Boston packet was 
lying ; and he was soon off for Vermont. 

Brother Marble joined the New England Con- 
ference in 1810, and located in 1816 ; and then, it is 
said, served a Congregational church for a few years. 
In 1823 his name again appears in the New England 
Conference appointments ; and in 1835, after having 
been supernumerary for several years, and at least 
three years " without an appointment," he withdrew 
from the New Hampshire Conference. His subse- 
quent history is not known to the writer. 

Rev. Bartholomew Otheman soon came on to fill 
out Brother Marble's year. He dates his ministerial 
life from Sept. 13, 1813, when he first came to Well- 
fleet. The circuit, including Truro, was then called 
Wellfleet. From the first, he endeared himself to the 
people ; for, though quite young, he was a good 
preacher and a careful pastor. From the next Con- 
ference he was returned to this circuit, and ~ 
labored acceptably and successfully through 7" 

the year. God was with him on this his first ap- 
pointment ; the borders of the church were enlarged, 
and believers were greatly built up in the faith. 

Brother Otheman was married in 1816 to Mrs. 
Mary S. Cartwright, widow of Capt. Benjamin F. 
Cartwright, and daughter of Deacon Thomas Gross, 
of Wellfleet. She was one of the worthy " ten 
sisters." * Together they served Jesus and the 
church until March, 1876, when, at the age of ninety 
years and nine months, she was called to her rest. 

1 See Appendix, Gross Family. 



20 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

Thus bereaved after nearly sixty years of happy 
companionship, he writes : " Oh, my desolate home ! 
God only knows my loneliness." But the gospel 
which he has so long preached to others is now a 
source of great comfort to him. He has served 
twenty-six circuits and stations, and been presiding 
elder seventeen years. In 1868 his Conference gave 
him a supernumerary relation, in which he still con- 
tinues ; but he preaches as he has opportunity, once, 
twice, and sometimes even three times, on a sabbath. 
He is superintendent of a Sunday school, and teacher 
of a Bible class ; he visits the sick, attends funerals, 
and does other pastoral work. In July, 1876,- he 
preached in Wellneet ; and some were present who 
heard his first sermon in 1813. As expressing the 
sentiment of his heart, he quotes in a letter recently 
written : — 

" ' Happy if with my latest breath 
I may but gasp His name, 
Preach him to all, and cry in death, — 
Behold, behold the Lamb ! ' " 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 21 



CHAPTER IV. 

Thomas C. Peirce. — Orin Eoberts. — Benjamin Keith. — Great Re- 
vival. — A Church built. — Charles Virgin. — B. R. Hoyt. — 
George Pickering. 

In the summer of 1815 Rev. Thomas C. Peirce was 
the preacher in charge, and he was called by « 
this people " an interesting and convincing 3 * 

preacher." Under his words deep conviction was 
wrought in many hearts, and some were converted, 
while others carried their convictions for months, or 
even years, before yielding to the Spirit. One man 
who was soon after converted in Boston, and from 
that time up to his death was a very earnest Christian 
and a useful member of this church, dated his deep 
conviction from a service in which he heard Brother 
Pence preach. " I never could forget that sermon," 
he was often heard to say. Much of the good seed 
sown this year was harvested in the following years. 

T. C. Peirce joined the Conference in 1814; and, 
with the exception of four years in a local capacity, 
he sustained an effective relation till May, 1850. 
" He was one of the best men and the best preachers 
of his time," says one who knew him well. By his 
peculiar sympathy he particularly endeared himself 
to the afflicted wherever he went. He was a close 
student till very near the end of his earth-life, and 



22 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

was always a faithful pastor and an example of 
earnest piety. He loved the Church of Christ and 
the work of the ministry, desiring to " cease at once 
to work and live." Yet, when sickness came, he was 
perfectly resigned to the will of God, and the Saviour's 
presence and love comforted him. In great peace, 
and with a glorious hope, he passed to the spirit-land 
May 25, 1851, aged sixty years. 

Rev. B. K. Peirce, D.D. ; editor of " Zion's Herald," 
is his son. 

Rev. Orin Roberts came the next year. Though 
o £ of humble ability as a preacher, he was a 
very good man, and his heart was fully in his 
work. Some of our old people well remember his 
whole-souled singing. He saw a gracious revival 
spread through the circuit, and some forty-five added 
to the churches. One sister says, " It was a reforma- 
tion, a genuine work, the results of which will be 
seen in heaven." In many of their meetings all who 
were present felt the power of God, — some in deep 
conviction, some in sound conversion, and others in 
the fulness of the Spirit. One sabbath afternoon, 
in South Truro, when the Presiding Elder, Rev. 
Charles Virgin, had preached to the unconverted, 
the Spirit so came upon the congregation in convic- 
tion that some left the house, while others in their 
troubled countenances gave evidence that they were 
resisting God. After looking upon this scene for a 
few minutes, Father Virgin arose, and said, in his 
peculiar way, "O foolish Galatians, who hath be- 
witched you that ye should not obey the truth ? " 
Many yielded and were saved. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 23 

It was during this revival that Rev. Benjamin R. 
Hoyt first came to Wellfleet. He was stationed at 
Harwich, and came here for a day or two to assist the 
pastor in his revival work. One afternoon, in the 
house of Micah Dyer, he preached from 2 Cor. v. 11 : 
" Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." 
It was a powerful sermon. 

Among those in Wellfleet who were born of the 
Spirit this year were Henry Baker, the three brothers 
Cornelius, Eleazer, and Joshua Hamblen, Uriah At- 
wood, Joel Atwood, Thomas Atwood, Temperance 
Holbrook, Thomas and Thankful Holbrook, William 
Cleverly, and Freeman A. Baker. These all, with 
others whom we have not named, made noble acces- 
sions to the church. Brother Joel Atwood was so full 
of love, that one day, some little time after his con- 
version, while at work on the roof of a house, he was 
heard by the neighbors repeatedly to shout, " Glory 
to God ! Glory to God ! " and then he would sing one 
of the good old hymns. 

Only two of these converts are now living, but 
nearly all who have gone lived faithful to Jesus to the 
day of their death. Many remember their earnest 
prayers, powerful exhortations, and exemplary lives. 
They died triumphantly, and now live with Jesus. 
Brothers William Cleverly and Freeman A. Baker 
are the oldest living members of our church, and they 
are a great blessing to us (January, 1877). Every ear 
is attentive when they come into our social meetings 
and speak to us from their experiences of sixty years. 
Every heart is blessed when they lead us in prayer, 
and all are moved when they exhort us to be faithful. 



24 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

Brother Baker did not come to a satisfactory knowl- 
edge of his acceptance with God until a few months 
after the others. He started with them, and joined 
the class ; but it was on board of a small vessel with 
Joseph Harding and Henry Baker, godly men, that 
the clear light first shone into his soul. That was a 
memorable morning to those three. Two have crossed 
the flood ; one, led by them to Jesus, still lingers to 
live and labor for the Master. 

Up to this time the Methodists in Wellfleet had no 
public place for worship. They had met in private 
houses with Thankful Rich, Eleazer Higgins, Ephraim 
Higgins, and later with Isaac Harding, Cornelius 
Hamblen, and others, and their sacramental altar had 
been rough planks placed across chairs ; yet the gospel 
was as sweet and powerful, and the commemoration 
of the sufferings and death of our Lord as precious 
and impressive, as in the most costly edifice. The 
number had become too large to be longer accom- 
modated in this way, and all felt the necessity of a 
church-home ; but How can we get it ? was the ques- 
tion which troubled them. Finally three brethren 
who had the interests of the kingdom of Christ on 
their hearts — Cornelius Hamblen, Isaac Harding, and 
Micah Dyer — began to talk and pray about it; and 
they came to believe, that, if they did what they 
could, the Lord would help them through with' the 
enterprise. Subscribing liberally themselves, they 
went among the people, gathering what they could, 
in small sums, for most of them were poor ; and soon 
they purchased a lot. 

With the next Conference, Brother Roberts was re- 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 25 

moved to Scituate. In 1820 he located, since which 
time our people have known little of him. Once, 
somewhere about 1824, he came here, and labored a 
little while at his trade, a brick-mason ; and as late as 
1855, one of our townsmen met him in Springfield, 
Vt. Whether he is yet living, we could not ascer- 
tain. 

Rev. Benjamin Keith succeeded Brother Roberts, 
and came on the circuit when our brethren here « ^ 
were building their new church. Through 
much self-sacrifice and hard labor on the part of 
many, with God's peculiar blessing, it was completed 
in November of this year, and dedicated by Rev. George 
Pickering, the presiding elder. This house, though 
not large (only forty by thirty feet) or costly, was 
their first temple for the worship of God ; and, with its 
bare floors and uncushioned seats, they were as happy 
and earnest worshippers as ever met together. 
Brother Keith saw the new church filled with atten- 
tive hearers, some saying, " We would see Jesus." 
An increase of nine members was reported. 

Benjamin Keith was born in Pomfret, Vt., and 
embraced religion in early life, joining the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. In 1811 he came into the New 
England Conference ; but his health soon failed, and 
he desisted from travelling. In 1817 he again com- 
menced work in the itinerancy here in Wellfleet, and 
continued for four years, when, because of failing 
health, he located. For the third time he entered 
the active list of Methodist ministers in 1826, in 
which he continued till called home, preaching and 
working in all the duties of his office as long as he 



26 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

had strength. His wife was Delia Atwood, daughter 
of Thomas Atwood, sen., of Wellfleet. He was a 
man of genuine, deep piety, a sound preacher, and, on 
most of his appointments, a successful minister. He 
died in Truro, Mass., Feb. 11, 1834, aged forty-five 
years. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 27 



CHAPTER V. 

Ephraim Wiley. — Edward Hyde. — E. Uphara. — Eirst Camp-Meet- 
ing on the Cape in 1819, followed by Revivals in Provincetown and 
Eastham. — Second Camp-Meeting in 1820, followed by Revivals 
in Wellfleet and Truro. — Wilbur Fiske. — B. R. Hoyt. 

Rev. Ephraim Wiley came from the Conference 
of 1818, and labored here two years. This was his 
first appointment in the Conference ; he had R Q 
previously labored under the presiding elder, 
three years at Melrose, Mass., where' the Lord greatly 
blessed his efforts in the salvation of souls. Among 
the converts was Rev. Frederick Upham, D.D., 
whom Brother Wiley received on trial in the church. 
In his first year on this circuit, there was some in- 
terest in Truro, where about twenty professed con- 
version ; but in Wellfleet the life of the church ran 
low. 

In August of his second year, the first camp-meet- 
ing on the Cape was held in South Wellfleet, where 
" the power of God was displayed among the Q 
people ; " and glorious revivals in Province- ^* 

town and Eastham followed. Some attended this 
meeting out of curiosity : such a gathering and 
such power were to them new things. But, while 
they were looking on the strange proceedings, the 
Holy Spirit arrested them ; and they went home 



28 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

deeply convicted. This was especially true of some 
from Eastham, where, up to this time, no Methodist 
minister had been allowed to work. The convictions 
received at the camp-meeting wrought first distress, 
then liberty through Christ. From the testimonies 
of these converts, others were led in the same path 
to conversion ; and so the work of God went on, 
until Brother Wiley was invited to preach to them 
the word of life, and conduct their meetings. Many 
opened their homes and hearts to receive the messen- 
gers of God ; and he labored hard and successfully. 
A class was formed, and the numbers so increased 
that Eastham was made an appointment on the 
Wellfleet Circuit the next year. An increase of one 
hundred and sixty-two members was reported at the 
next Conference, and most of the converts were in 
Eastham. 

Brother Daniel L. Rich was converted in Truro, in 
February of this year. He soon joined the Wellfleet 
church, and has been an active and useful member 
ever since. 

A young brother by the name of Homer — his full 
name we have not learned — was present at this 
first camp-meeting, and remained in Wellfleet, 
preaching occasionally, and assisting the pastor as he 
could, until the following October. Then, in com- 
pany with Brother Wiley, he took passage for Bos- 
ton, with Capt. Joseph Higgins, in " The New 
Packet," loaded with oysters, in which the trade in 
Wellfleet was quite extensive. Capt. Higgins was 
considered an excellent pilot, but he made a mistake 
this time, and ran his vessel upon Minot's Ledge ; 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 29 

and she went down in a very few minutes. Brother 
Wiley, the captain, and two others were saved. 
Brother Homer and three others were lost. 

Ephraim Wiley was more than an ordinary man ; 
a sweet singer, a popular, and at the same time a 
sound, preacher. With his peculiar social qualities, 
he gained the good-will of all with whom he asso- 
ciated, and led many to the Saviour. He labored for 
about twenty-five years in the New England and 
Maine Conferences, when, in 1839, he was compelled 
by failing health to take a superannuated relation. 
In Jackson, La., whither he had removed a few years 
before to reside with his son, he fell asleep, Sept. 
30, 1864, aged seventy-six years. 

Phebe Wiley, daughter of Rev. Ephraim Wiley, 
was the wife of Rev. S. O. Wright ; and they were 
among our first missionaries to Africa. She was a 
fair woman and a very devoted Christian. The 
Liberians said that no such woman had ever come to 
their shores. She gave her life to the work, and, 
with her husband, died in Liberia. 

The next } T ear was one long to be remembered in 
Wellfleet. Rev. Edward Hyde was the ~ 
preacher, with Rev. F. Upham, appointed by 
the presiding elder. In a letter to Rev. T. Merrit, 
dated Wellfleet, Aug. 28, 1821, Brother Hyde says, 
" When I arrived at my appointment in July, 1820, I 
found that religion was at a low ebb on the circuit: 
but few had been converted for some time. My mind 
was much exercised on account of the situation of 
the people. I had been travelling where multitudes 
had turned to the Lord ; and now to find none inquir- 



30 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

ing the way to Zion, affected Hie much. My only 
refuge was in the Lord ; and to him I often carried 
the case of the people, and soon found it not in vain. 
I endeavored to impress the minds of the brethren 
with the importance of a revival. In the different 
classes we entered into a covenant to pray twice a 
day for two weeks, for God to revive his work. 
Before the time had expired, the work began ; several 
were deeply awakened, and believers were quickened. 
Our camp-meeting (the second on the Cape) came on 
about this time in this town, which gave a new spring 
to the work. ... It has spread to all parts of the 
town, even to the isles of the sea. On one island, 
(Brown Brook) scarcely an adult is left unconverted, 
and not a single family but some of which have found 
a pardoning God. . . . The most powerful and rapid 
work among us has been in Truro. This commenced 
in February last. In about one week upwards of one 
hundred could testify that the Lord had power on earth 
to forgive sins. About forty, in twenty-four hours, 
were set at liberty. For several days the cries of the 
distressed and wounded were such that we could not 
preach to them. As soon as an opportunity was pre- 
sented for mourners to come forward to be prayed 
for, in every direction they would present themselves 
in crowds. Sometimes one hundred and fifty or two 
hundred might be seen, in deep distress, on their 
knees, crying, ' God be merciful to me a sinner ; ' then 
one after another rising and praising God for deliver- 
ing grace. . . . Out of about four hundred that have 
been brought into liberty, two hundred and thirty-six 
have joined our society." 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 31 

At this second camp-meeting in South Wellneet, 
Revs. B. R. Hoyt and Wilbur Fiske were present. 
It was at this time that Dr. Fiske was filled with the 
Spirit. Some of this people remember his groanings 
and rejoicings. In a letter to " The Methodist Maga- 
zine," dated Wellneet, Aug. 30, 1820, Brother Hoyt 
says, " Immediately after the tents were erected, the 
work began, and continued to increase till the meet- 
ing closed. On the second day a solid flame of divine 
love seemed to run through the encampment. The 
number of converts on the occasion could not be as- 
certained. The work was apparently more effectual 
among: believers than among; the unconverted. Such 
ardent cries for pure hearts have, it is believed, been 
seldom heard. . . . The good-begun work did not 
stop at the conclusion of the camp-meeting, but is 
in this town more glorious than ever; more or less 
have been brought into the liberty of the gospel, at 
every meeting since. Saturday night and the follow- 
ing sabbath were seasons lon^ to be remembered. 
In the space of about twenty-four hours, upwards of 
twenty declared that they had found the Lord to 
the joy of their hearts. The work is spreading among 
people of all descriptions, from those who are bend- 
ing over the grave, to those who are just entering 
upon the stage of life. The rich and poor meet to- 
gether, and unite to walk in the way of life. All 
glory be to God for what he has done and is still 
doing ! Much more might be added concerning the 
good work ; but I must conclude, and hasten away to 
help it forward by praying with and for the dis- 
tressed." 



32 



HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 



Among the converts in Wellfleet were Knowles 
and Sally Dyer, Joseph and Abigail Higgins, Micah 
Dyer, jun., Freeman Dyer, and Lurana Holbrook. Of 
these, two have gone to be with Jesus, three are yet 
members of this church, and two are living in Boston. 

On the circuit there was an increase of two hun- 
dred and eight members this year. 

Brother Hoyt was stationed with Rev. D. Kilbourn 
in Boston. He came to the camp-meeting, and, be- 
cause of the great interest here, tarried for some weeks 
to assist Brother Hyde ; he was not transferred to 
Wellfleet as some have said. He was a prominent 
man among the Methodists of his day, always an effi- 
cient preacher, and a steadfast supporter of all the 
interests of the church. He was thrice a delegate to 
the General Conference, and many years a presiding 
elder. Having lived to a great age, he was called 
home a few years since. 

Eev. F. Upham, now our venerable Dr. Upham, 
was at this time commencing his ministry ; he joined 
the Conference on trial the next year. God has won- 
derfully blessed him all through these years, and he 
is still in the effective ranks of our Conference. 

Through the next year Brother Hyde was assisted 

R by Rev. Heman Perry ; and they saw most 

of the converts established, and some new 

conversions. It was a year of hard labor, but the 

success was glorious. Ministers and members were 

very largely blessed. 

Edward Hyde was born in Norwich, Conn., March 
31, 1786. " His father was one of the earliest mem- 
bers of the Methodist society in that town, and a use- 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 33 

ful local preacher." The son, converted in his youth, 
began to labor as a local preacher as early as 1809, 
and soon after was received on trial in the New Eng- 
land Conference. From the first he rarely failed to 
have revivals on the circuits he travelled. " Brother 
Hyde," said Bishop George, "is generally favored 
with gracious revivals where he labors." He was a 
very pious, humble minister, and his faith was mighty. 
In the prayer-meetings he would frequently say, 
" Keep a steady faith, brethren ; keep a steady faith." 
In Stevens's Memorials we read of him, " He was 
remarkable for his punctuality, and never lost an 
appointment, it is said, from the beginning to his 
last sickness, through care of his health. His widow 
said, 4 In living with him twenty years, I never saw 
him angry, and never heard him speak an unpleasant 
word. I never saw him light or trifling, but he 
would often check this spirit in others. His motto 
was, to speak evil of no man.' He died in Wilbraham, 
Mass., March 16, 1832, shouting, " Glory to God! 
Hallelujah ! " 



34 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 



CHAPTER VI. 

Leonard Bennett. — S. G. Atkins. — Lewis Bates and Joel Steele. — 
Bevival. — New Parsonage. — First Sunday School. — Wellfleet 
Station. 

The next servant of the Lord appointed to this 
o circuit was Rev. Leonard Bennett, with Rev. 

Heman Perry again as junior preacher. 
If we judge alone from the number of converts 
reported, this was not a prosperous year. But when 
we remember that the church had just before passed 
through a great work of grace, we can see that 
Brother Bennett had great responsibilities in watch- 
ing over the five hundred and sixty-four members 
on the circuit, and giving them the word by which 
they might grow. To these responsibilities he was 
faithful, and the people loved him. It was not his 
fault that there were so few conversions. He was 
o returned the following year, with Rev. S. G. 

**' Atkins to assist him. This year Eastham 
was made a station by itself, and Wellfleet Circuit 
included only this town with Truro. There were 
no new developments, not many conversions : the 
work was mostly in the church. 

Leonard Bennett was born in Dublin, Ireland, 
June 16, 1786 ; born again, June 16, 1806 ; landed 
in America, June 16, 1807, and joined the Methodist 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 35 

travelling connection, June 16, 1810. For twenty- 
two years he was in the active service, — a good and 
useful minister. In 1832 he superannuated ; and 
in 1841 removed to Illinois, where, after much suf- 
fering, he died in 1847. His end was peace. 

Rev. S. G. Atkins was the preacher in charge in 
1824. This was his third year in the ministry, and 
his health was very poor ; yet his labors were R 
a blessing to the disciples of Jesus. He ^" 

was so anxious to do the people good, that in preach- 
ing he seemed sometimes to completely exhaust his 
strength. Though naturally very diffident, by his 
exemplary life and his great love for God and men 
he endeared himself to all who knew him. This was 
a year when many removed to Boston and other 
cities ; and thus the membership of the church was 
considerably reduced. It has been a great embar- 
rassment all through the history of this church, that 
so many of the members have removed because of 
the limited means of support in Wellfleet. 

Brother Atkins's next appointment was Dorches- 
ter ; and it was his last. Shortly after Conference, 
he was compelled to retire from his work, with the 
thought that he must soon " go home." Daring the 
months in which his life was wasting in consumption, 
he was fully resigned to the will of God ; and when 
death came, Feb. 27, 1826, to die was gain. 

A revival began at the opening of the next con- 
ference year, when Rev. Lewis Bates was the preacher. 
Under his first sermon the power of the ~ 
Spirit was manifested in the congregation ; ^' 

and the work soon spread quite generally among the 



36 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

people. Some were converted, and many Christians 
were led to drink larger draughts of the living water. 
Fifty-four members were added to the churches on 
the circuit this year. Father Bates labored on in the 
o - same devotion and faith, through his second 
year here ; but there were not so many born 
of the Spirit as previously. The growth was in the 
strength of the disciples. Speaking of these years 
in a letter to Dr. Stevens, he says, u We enjoyed 
many displays of the pardoning and sanctifying grace 
of God ; scores were brought to the Lord. We built 
a neat parsonage house in Wellfleet, and a good 
meeting-house in Truro. This closed my four years' 
ministerial labor on the good old Cape. 1 One thou- 
sand souls were converted to God, and scores were 
perfected in love, during this time." 

Father Bates, a servant of God remarkable for 
devotion, zeal, living faith, and success, was born 
March 20, 1780, — a descendant in the seventh gen- 
eration of John Rogers the martyr. He was con- 
verted in his fourteenth year, in Springfield, Vt., 
whither his parents had removed about a year be- 
fore. His conversion was instantaneous, " as sudden 
as the electric shock." In 1801, with two others, he 
joined the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and thus 
originated the Methodist society in Springfield, Vt. 
He commenced preaching in 1802 ; and, two years 
later, joined the New England Conference. Then 
in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, and Canada, he travelled, and 

l He travelled Chatham Circuit the two years preceding his appointment 
to Wellfleet. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 37 

preached the " glorious gospel of the blessed God," 
a large portion of the time in new fields. Some 
years, as a single man, he received but from sixteen 
to eighteen dollars ; and, after he had a family, he 
sometimes received not more than sixty-five dollars. 
Through all the trials, persecutions, and hard work 
of a pioneer of Methodism in New England, he was 
cheerful and happy in God ; and for forty-two years 
he was incessant in labors. Multitudes were con- 
verted under his ministry, and some of the converts 
became ministers of the gospel. Four years he was 
located in Springfield, Vt. ; and for the last fifteen 
years of his life, as a superannuate, he lived in Taun- 
ton, Mass. Thus, having " served his own generation 
by the will of God, he fell asleep, and was laid unto 
his fathers " in a good old age, March 24, 1865. 

He has one son who is a member of the New Eng- 
land Conference ; another who is a local preacher in 
North Dighton, Mass. ; and three daughters. 

The first Sunday school connected with this church 
was organized just before' Father Bates fin- Q 
ished his labors with this people, May 20, '" 

1827. The officers elected were, Joshua Hamblen, 
president ; Eleazer Hamblen, vice-president ; John 
Harding, secretary ; Freeman Dj^er, corresponding 
secretary ; Knowles Dyer, treasurer. This organiza- 
tion was completed, and a constitution adopted on 
the 29th of the following August, after Rev. Joel 
Steele had come to Wellfleet for his second term of 
service. Article I. of that constitution read, " This 
Society shall be called the Wellfleet Sabbath-School 
Union Board of the New England Conference Sab- 



38 HISTORY M. E. CHUBCH, 

bath-School Society for Wellfleet Station." A board 
of managers was elected, and the school divided into 
three sections ; one to meet at the church at nine, 
A.M., with John Harding for superintendent ; one at 
the Island schoolhouse at eight, A.M., with Uriah At- 
wood for superintendent ; the other at the house of 
Joshua Hamblen, on the Neck, at eight, A.M., with 
Eleazer Hamblen for superintendent. The scholars 
in these three sections were about twenty. But 
God greatly blessed these labors among the children, 
and the numbers were soon increased. From the 
report of the managers given at the meeting on the 
21st of January, 1828, we learn that there were then 
over ninety children in the school. This report also 
states that " the scholars have recited about four 
thousand verses of Scripture, four thousand and five 
hundred answers of the Catechism, and three thou- 
sand seven hundred and sixty-five verses of our 
hymns." The Sunday-school scholars of this day 
would think it a great task to commit so much to 
memory ; yet it may well be questioned whether it 
would not be better for them to so learn the Scrip- 
tures. Some of the members of this first school are 
now living (January, 1877), and they can repeat 
very many of the passages which they then learned. 
They have " known the Scriptures from their youth." 
Wellfleet was this year made a station by itself, and 
Father Steele labored with his usual success. His 
o ^ second year was very pleasant, and crowned 
with a small ingathering, while many came 
nearer to God. The meeting-house was filled ; and 
the church, when he left it, was in a good, healthy- 
condition. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 39 



CHAPTER VII. 

B. F. Lambord. — N. S. Spaulding. — Squire B. Hascall. — Hector 
Brownson and Warren Emerson. — Church Edifice enlarged. — 
Revival. 

Rev. Benjamin F. Lambord came from the next 
Conference, and remained here two years. Q 
Finding a congregation larger than could ^' 

well be seated, he at once urged the brethren to en- 
large their building. They set about the work, and, 
through many difficulties, succeeded in completing it 
in the following December, when the pastor conduct- 
ed the services of redeclication. The dimensions of 
this house of worship were sixty by thirty-eight feet. 
There were seventy pews on the floor, with side gal- 
lerries, and one opposite the pulpit for the choir. 
Very soon after the dedication there were a number 
of hopeful conversions, and many Christian hearts 
were revived. 

In his second year Brother Lambord was cheered 
in seeing many more converted. There was R 
an increase of forty in the membership above *■* 
all the removals to the cities. The congregations 
were large, and a large proportion of the members 
were good workers for God. 

Benjamin F. Lambord was born in Boston in 1785. 
He was converted at the age of nineteen, commenced 



40 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

preaching at twenty, and joined the Conference in 
1806. For some reason he was not connected with 
the Conference from 1816 to 1825 ; but, with the ex- 
ception of those years, he was a hard worker in the 
itinerant ranks until 1847, when he superannuated to 
reside in Lynn, Mass. It has been said, " One of the 
marked traits of his character was amiability, com- 
bined with decision and uniformity in the perform- 
ance of duty." His intellectual attainments were 
more than ordinary ; and, but for his excessive mod- 
esty, he would have been more prominent. His life 
was exemplary, his reputation unblemished, and his 
death triumphant. March 19, 1862, he passed to the 
spirit-land. He has four children now living (Janu- 
ary, 1877), of whom one is a resident of Wellfleet and 
a member of this church. 

Rev. Newell S. Spaulding followed Brother Lam- 
o bord, and, as he writes, " enjoyed a pleasant 

^ ' year with a good, united church, and some 
conversions." This was, however, a trying year for 
the church. Certain difficulties, not to be named in 
this record, hindered a revival, and greatly embar- 
rassed both pastor and people. Brother Spaulding 
did all he could for the kingdom of Christ, and his 
services were highly appreciated. 

He was converted in 1818, and entered the itiner- 
ant ranks in 1822. In 1826 he married Miss Laura 
McGinley of New London, Conn. ; and they cele- 
brated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in 
October of 1876. Together they labored in the travel- 
ling ministry for thirty years ; and now, in a calm and 
beautiful old age, they are still trusting in God, and 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 41 

rejoicing in his kind Providence which has brought 
them to the golden autumn of a happy and useful 
wedded life. He says, " God wonderfully blessed 
my feeble efforts in most of my appointments ; the 
pay was usually small, but the harvest rich. I have 
lived by faith, and gloried in the cross of Christ: 
and, through the mercy of God, am now glorying in 
tribulations also, and waiting for the coming of my 
Saviour." He resides at Ocean Grove, N.J. 

Rev. Squire B. Hascall was the next pastor. He 
was called a good preacher, and he did much to 
dissipate the cloud which gathered the year ~ 
before. But he was greatly interested in poli- ^ 
tics, and worked at a trade outside of his ministry 
a part of his time ; and the latter doubtless hindered 
his success in saving souls. 

He was born in 1792, and commenced his ministry 
in 1818. After ten years of service he located, but 
was re-admitted the year he came to Wellfleet. In 
1838 he again located. In most of his appointments 
he was in some measure useful ; but his attention to 
outside business, in order to support his large family, 
greatly diminished his power and success. In his 
last days he said to his friends, " Death has no 
terrors to me : the place where my body shall rest 
looks as pleasant as a bed of roses." With such 
faith he died February 28, 1850. He has a brother, 
Rev. Jefferson Hascall, in the New England Con- 
ference. 

Rev. Hector Brownson succeeded Brother Hascall 
the following year ; and did a good work in feeding 
the flock, and making some preparations for the 



42 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

reformation which came soon after. The Master has 
« said, " One soweth, another reapeth ; " and 

^' Brother Brownson was the sower. Most of 
the reaping was done by his successor. The time is 
coming when both shall rejoice together. 

Hector Brownson joined the New England Confer- 
ence in 1826, and located in 1838, but was soon re- 
admitted. He has been in the service of the American 
Bible Society for thirty-two years, as one of the most 
able and efficient financial agents which that society 
has ever had. He is now very aged, but vigorous, 
and the appointed District Superintendent of the 
American Bible Society for Eastern New York. 
He is on the list of superannuates in the New 
England Conference, and resides at Rhinebeck, 
N.Y. 

Under the labors of Rev. Warren Emerson, there 

was a gracious revival in Wellfleet. We cannot 

« ascertain definitely how many were con- 

^" verted ; but the minutes show an increase of 
twenty-eight in membership this year, and our record 
proves that many who have since been noble disciples 
of Jesus were then brought in. Brother Emerson 
was particularly efficient as a pastor, and is affection- 
ately remembered here. 

The Sunday school was thoroughly re-organized, 
and a new constitution adopted this year. 

One of the superintendents about this time, a man 
who was remarkable for piety and Christian zeal 
rather than for learning and correctness of speech, 
would frequently arise after all the other exercises 
had passed, and say, in his important way, " We will 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 43 

now close the school by singing the missionary 
hymn, — 

1 Oh ! when shall I see Jesus ? ' " 

A good man, he has long since gone to be with Jesus. 

Through the next year Brother Emerson was faith- 
ful to the converts, and most of them held on, and 
came into the church. The people generally p 
were possessed of the good spirit, and J ^* 
worked well with their pastor. 

Warren Emerson was born in Maiden (now Mel- 
rose), Mass., Feb. 6, 1796, converted in 1815, and 
received into the Conference in 1828. Until within 
a few years he has been in the active work, going 
where God and the bishops sent him, and blessing 
all the charges which he served. In 1848 he was a 
delegate to the General Conference. His wife, Susan 
Emerson, died at their home in West Thompson, 
Conn., Sept. 2, 1876. He is a little over eighty years 
old, and feels his loss very keenly. May the churches 
which he has served pray for him in his bereavement ! 

It was during this year that a new Methodist Epis- 
copal church was dedicated in South Wellfleet by 
Rev. Enoch Bradley of North Truro. 1 

Rev. B. F. Lambord came again in 1836, and spent 
a very pleasant year. There were some con- ~ p. 
versions, and all enjoyed the preaching of ** 
this servant of God. 

1 See Appendix. 



44 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Heman Perry. — I. M. Bidwell. — Horace Moulton. — Paul Townsend. 
— Jonathan Cady. — Great Revival. — Church removed and en- 
larged. 

Rev. Hema** Perry, who several years before 
a was on Wellfleet Circuit with Revs. Edward 

*■*'* Hyde and Leonard Bennett, was the sta- 
tioned preacher in 1837. There was some interest 
~ g during the year, and the pastor was well 
^ ' supported. His second was very like the 
first ; not altogether fruitless, and not remarkably 
successful. 

He was born in Sandwich, Mass., in 1794, and 
converted in a class-meeting in his father's house, in 
1807. He very soon felt that the Spirit directed 
him to the work of the ministry ; and in 1821 com- 
menced travelling in the Conference. In 1841, after 
twenty years devoted to his chosen work, he was 
compelled to retire from the field, and, as a superan- 
nuate, went with his family to Monument, Mass. 
(the town of Sandwich), where he resided till the 
Saviour called him home. Though in great bodily 
weakness, he was often found supplying the pulpit 
which must otherwise have been unoccupied ; and 
his life through all these years was truly exemplary. 
He died peacefully, Feb. 14, 1867. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 45 

The next year was somewhat interrupted by the 
failing health of the appointed preacher, Rev. Ira M. 
Bidwell. He came from Provincetown Cen- « 
tre Church, having had two very successful Jy " 
years with that people. He says, "I really broke 
down at Provincetown, but had to stop at Wellfleet." 
He was so completely worn out, that Rev. Horace 
Moulton came on to finish out the year. 

There was no special interest. The church kept 
along with some degree of life, but not so much as 
at some other seasons. 

Father Bidwell was converted in 1820, at seven- 
teen years of age, under the labors of Rev. John N. 
Maffitt ; and then united with the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church in Hartford, Conn. In 1823 he was 
licensed as a local preacher, and the following year 
joined the Conference. On his first circuit, with two 
other brethren, there were thirteen appointments ; 
and on all his fields of labor he worked hard in the 
name of the Lord. Since 1810, with the exception 
of one year, he has held a superannuated relation in 
the Providence Conference, preaching two or three 
years under the presiding elder, and occasionally 
when not thus employed. For the last four years 
he has been too feeble to do any ministerial work. 
God gave him many souls in the years of his service ; 
and now he writes, " I am resting in hope, and 
trusting the Lord for a glorious immortality." He 
resides in Norwich, Conn. 

Horace Moulton was a very useful man. His stay 
in Wellfleet was brief, and the apparent success of 
his labors was less than on almost any of his other 



46 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

fields. He conducted, under God, many revivals, 
and organized many churches. For thirty-one years 
he sustained an effective relation to the New Eng- 
land Conference ; and through his life of self-denial 
and Christlike benevolence, devoting himself to the 
one work of saving souls, he saw a very large num- 
ber converted. He was superannuated for thirteen 
years, but never lost his intense interest in the 
progress and triumphs of Christ's kingdom. " His 
declining years were full of sunshine ; " and on the 
11th of September, 1873, he entered into rest. 

Rev. Paul Townsend was the next pastor. He 
was faithful in all his work, and very anxious to see 

o sinners saved ; but through the first year 

^ " there was little interest. In his second year, 

the revival came ; and it was the most glorious this 

o town had enjoyed since its settlement. In 

* the first two days of the extra services, 
Monday and Tuesday, there were about ten con- 
verted. On Wednesday evening ninety presented 
themselves for prayers, and thirty were converted. 
On Thursday evening there were one hundred and 
eighty inquirers, of whom thirty were saved. Friday 
evening two hundred and thirty said, " Pray for 
us,"- — filling all the wing pews of the church, and 
the body pews, except two or three back by the 
door ; and thirty-nine were converted. On Sunday, 
of two hundred seekers, twenty-five found the Sav- 
iour. Memorable week ! over one hundred and 
thirty souls born into the kingdom of Christ; some 
of whom have been bright and growing Christians 
ever since. During this revival, at least one hun- 



WELL FLEET, MASS. 47 

dred and seventy-five professed conversion, and gave 
some satisfactory evidence. The whole town was 
moved by the Holy Spirit ; and there was a great 
change in very many homes. Many yet live (Janu- 
ary, 1877), who hold the servant through whom 
God spake in this season, in the most kindly Chris- 
tian affection. 

Father Townsend was born in Barnard, Vt., Jan. 
3, 1807; and born of the Spirit, Sept. 29, 1822. His 
first license to preach was given at a Quarterly Con- 
ference held at Woodstock, Barnard Circuit, Vt., 
March 4, 1826 ; and signed, in the absence of the 
presiding elder, by A. D. Merrill. " The following 
year," he says, '* I was appointed by John W. Hardy 
as junior preacher on Weston Circuit, Vt., with 
Justin Spaulding preacher in charge. On the morn- 
ing of July 4, 1827 (memorable day !) I bade fare- 
well to parents, brothers, sister, and home, mounted 
my horse and saddlebags, and rode forty miles to 
Weston before the sun set." In 1828 he was re- 
ceived on trial in the New England Conference, and 
has ever been a true minister of Christ. He has 
been a revival preacher. In Stafford Springs, Conn., 
on Tolland Circuit, he saw many conversions, and 
the now large and thriving church organized. At 
Greenfield, Westfield, Wellfleet, and Provincetown, 
he led large numbers into the liberty of the gospel ; 
and in Provincetown he received one hundred and 
fifty into the church. He has been presiding elder 
seven years, and represented his Conference at the 
General Conference twice. With the exception of 
eighteen months when suffering from a throat trouble, 



48 BISTORT M. E. CHURCH, 

he has been preaching continually since first sent out 
by the presiding elder in 1827. For four years after 
this throat difficulty came on, he was superannuated, 
but preached as a supply three of them. In 1873 
he was again compelled to take a superannuated 
relation ; but he continued to work as a supply, and 
is now (January, 1877) at Marston's Mills. His 
health is very poor ; but he must preach the gospel, 
if it be sitting in a chair before his congregation. 

Rev. Jonathan Cady followed Brother Townsend ; 
and it was his first work, to care for converts of the 

Q previous year. One hundred and twenty- 

^ * five were brought into the church, most of 
them to be acceptable and useful members. This is 
sufficient evidence of Brother Cady's faithfulness. 

The house was again too small for the congrega- 
tion ; and many thought that a more convenient 
and pleasant location could be found. Brother Cady 
did all he could ; and finally the present site was 
purchased of Abigail Higgins. In June of 1843, 
the work of pulling down and moving was begun ; 
and, with the arduous efforts of the pastor and those 
who were interested with him, it was completed in 

o the following December ; this house, sixty- 

^' seven by fifty-seven feet in dimensions, con- 
tained one hundred and eighteen pews, with galleries 
as before. The basement was of brick, with two 
vestries above ground, one seating three hundred, 
the other one hundred. The dedication services were 
held Dec. 5, Rev. Paul Townsend preaching the ser- 
mon, from Hag. ii. 9 : 'The glory of this latter house 
shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 49 

hosts ; and in this place will I give peace, saith the 
Lord of hosts." 

Up to this time the missionary collections had 
been very small; and, in addition to all his other 
work, Brother Cady undertook to instil a missionary 
spirit into the people, and so increase the collection. 
He tells of going with his horse, one morning, to the 
home of a brother living some distance from the 
village, who was noted for his caution about giving 
money to any enterprise : he went for the purpose 
of getting something for missions. The forenoon 
passed, and, although he made known his errand, no 
money came : so he had his horse put up, and staid 
to dinner. Through the afternoon he hinted his de- 
sire several times, but with no apparent success : so 
he staid to tea, and concluded to stop over night, 
rather than leave without the contribution to mis- 
sions. As the evening hours came on, the brother 
seemed rather uneasy, and at last handed the minis- 
ter two dollars, with which he joyfully returned to 
the parsonage. Whether the brother thought his 
pastor would board it out, or really imbibed the mis- 
sionary spirit, he did not say ; but his gift was large 
for him. Many others gave more largely than before. 

Jonathan Cady was converted in the fall of 1814, 
in Thompson, Conn. In 1830 he began to preach, 
with a local preacher's license, in Providence, R.I. 
Two years later he joined the New England Confer- 
ence ; in which for twenty-two years he did good 
work as an effective member, and four years as super- 
numerary. In 1859 he superannuated, and still con- 
tinues in that relation. "Almost seventy-five years 



50 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

of age, residing in Providence, R.I., he says, " All is 
well. My i faith is the substance of things hoped 
for, the evidence of things not seen ; ' my hope is 
glorious." 



WELL FLEET, MASS. 51 



CHAPTER IX. 

G. W. Stearns. — J. Lovejoy. — C. C. Munger. — Samuel Fox. — 
John Howson. — Revivals. — New Parsonage. 

Rev. G. W. Stearns came to Wellfleet in 1844, 
and found a large congregation, a membership of three 
hundred, and a very good life manifested. ~ 
He reported thirty conversions with twelve "' 
baptisms, a Sunday school of two hundred and fifty, 
and a net increase of eighteen in the church. His 
salary was four hundred dollars, and the missionary 
collection was twenty-two dollars. Three hundred 
and seventy-five dollars were paid on a parsonage 
debt, and thirty dollars collected for education. 

His second year was less prosperous. There were 
many removals, and the general interest rather de- 
creased. He says, in the church record, "Oar Q 
prosperity here has been hindered in a great ^' 
measure by a lack of mutual confidence in one another, 
through which the Devil has had a triumph. May it 
be short ! " This year seventy-five dollars were raised 
for missions. The preacher must have worked hard 
to secure such an advance. 

Brother Stearns was converted in October of 1834, 
at Newbury Seminary, Vt. : " the oldest son, spiritu- 
ally, of that institution." He commenced preaching 
under the presiding elder in 1835, and .joined the 



52 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

New Hampshire Conference in 1837, of which body 
he was a member until 1842, when he located. Com- 
ing to Barnstable, Mass., he preached one year, and 
joined the Providence Conference in 1843, and filled 
various appointments, till he took a supernumerary 
relation in 1855. He is now practising medicine in 
New Bedford, Mass., but says, " I regard the itinerant 
life as the highest and best of earth ; it was taking 
a long step down to enter and continue in my present 
work ; but necessity was laid upon me, and still re- 
mains." 

Rev. John Lovejoy followed Brother Stearns, and 

during the first year labored hard, with only a few con- 

g f. versions. The people enjoyed his preaching, 

^ ' but the desired results of most of his efforts 
were not realized. In his second year there was some- 
o thing of a revival, and quite a number were 

■ ' converted. Among them was one brother who 
has since been a class-leader for fifteen years, and sev- 
eral others who made solid members of the church. 

All through the town Brother Lovejoy was es- 
teemed a good, sound preacher. He knew the Scrip- 
tures, and used them in his preaching as few ministers 
can. In addition to his regular work, he gave several 
lectures on physiology, which were well appreciated. 

Some remember his efforts to arouse the sleepy 
hearers. Certain brethren who worked very hard 
during the week were habitually drowsy on the sab- 
bath ; and sometimes they would lean their heads for- 
ward on the backs of the pews before them. Brother 
Lovejoy endured it for a time, but soon determined 
to break up the habit. So the next sabbath, when 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 53 

several of the regular sleepers were in their usual 
position, he stopped his discourse to shout, " Heads 
up, heads up here ! " and they looked up in a wonder- 
ing way, and decided to sit up and hear the word. 
After that, whenever he saw them in their sleepy 
position, he shouted " Heads up ! " until they were 
well disciplined to give attention to the sermon. 

John Lovejoy was born in Lancaster, N.H., in 
1806, and converted in 1818. His conversion was 
brought about by no apparent human agency. The 
Holy Spirit " took of the things of God," and brought 
them to his mind, till he was " set in heart and soul 
to seek God." He was attending school ; and one 
day he was so depressed that he asked permission 
to leave the room, having concealed a Bible under his 
coat. Retiring to a barn, he read the Word, and 
prayed ; " and," he says, " it seemed as if I should 
be in hell if God did not interfere." Soon another 
boy, rude and thoughtless, found him in the attitude 
of prayer, and stood looking on. He was invited 
to pray, but said he could not, had never prayed, 
he would kneel as an earnest seeker after Jesus. 
They both knelt together and wept, and God blessed 
them. Within a few minutes after their return to the 
schoolroom, the whole school seemed to feel the power 
of conviction wrought by the Spirit ; and from that 
time a revival progressed, until one hundred were 
converted. A Methodist Episcopal church soon fol- 
lowed, and is now a pleasant appointment in the New- 
Hampshire Conference. Brother Lovejoy says, " From 
the Bible I learned to pray, and after a time to 
believe : I was saved, and I knew it." 



54 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

He commenced to hold meetings when but seven- 
teen years of age, and joined the New England Con- 
ference in 1827, since which time he has been in 
active service, with more or less success in his appoint- 
ments. He is now (1876) stationed at Norwich 
Town, Conn. 

Rev. Cyrus C. Munger was the next preacher. 

Although he was thought by some to be a man of 

o o considerable ability, he was not so success- 

^ ' ful here as most of the preachers have been. 
There were few, if any, conversions; and there was 
not so much interest among believers as they had 
before manifested. 

Brother Munger was the oldest son of Rev. Philip 
Munger, a Methodist itinerant for nearly half a cen- 
tury. Converted at the age of fifteen, he immedi- 
ately joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 
1827 entered the Maine Wesleyan Seminary. In 
1833 he joined the Maine Conference, in which he 
remained until poor health induced him to locate in 
1840. After living in Portland two years, he removed 
to Woonsocket, R.I., and supplied that church. In 
1844 he came into the Providence Conference, and 
for seven years was an active member. Then the 
disease which afterwards resulted in his death began 
to develop, and he located. He died very suddenly 
in Worcester, Mass., Feb. 4, 1856, aged forty-four 
years. 

Rev. Samuel Fox met a spirit of fanatical opposi- 
« tion in a few members in his first year. 

^" y " There were some of the official brethren who 
feared it would make a division in the church ; but he 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 55 

dealt with it in a calm, decided way which crushed it 
out, and prepared the way for the work of grace in 
the following year. 

In the Methodist and Congregational societies there 
were one hundred and fifty conversions ; and Q 
Brother Fox reported at the Conference sixty ** 
probationers. 

He says, " I was never troubled with a heavy, 
dragging conference-meeting during the two years. 
Sometimes few and sometimes many were gathered ; 
but there was always true spiritual life. When I 
have had opportunity to confer with our ministers 
preceding and succeeding me, they have given simi- 
lar testimony. It was not a perfect church, but hav- 
ing more of godliness than any other I have watched 
over." And then he asks, " Do the mantles of the 
fathers and mothers clothe the children ? " Would 
that we could say unqualifiedly, " They do " ! 

Samuel Fox is now (1876) stationed at East 
Thompson, Conn. ; and this is the thirty-third year 
of his ministry. He was converted in New Bedford, 
Mass., in 1838, and commenced preaching in South 
Yarmouth, Mass., in 1843. For two years, 1860 and 
1861, he was a superannuate ; and one year, 1874, 
he held a supernumerary relation. God has blessed 
him in all his work. 

Rev. John Howson came here in April, 1851, and 
spent two years " with great peace and some pros- 
perity." There was something of a revival 
the first year ; and a new parsonage was ^ * 
built at an expense of thirteen hundred dollars, and 
paid for. In his second year, the quickening and 



56 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

converting power was again felt ; and the collec- 
o tion for missions was more than doubled, — 

** ' one hundred and seventy-two dollars. He 
left an efficient church of three hundred and twelve 
members, with twenty probationers. 

Father Howson was sixteen years a local preacher 
in England before coming to this country. An 
American by birth, his parents removed with him in 
his childhood to England, their native country. He 
came here in 1839. Many of our people remember 
hearing him say substantially, one Fourth of July, 
" You are Americans because you could not help it : 
you were born here. I came here because I preferred 
to live in this country : I am an American from 
choice. And, besides this, I am as much an Ameri- 
can as any of you ; for I was born in this country. 
So I am twice an American, — by birth and by 
choice." 

In 1840 he joined the New England Conference, 
and was within the bounds of the Providence Con- 
ference when it was set off ; of which body he con- 
tinued an active member up to the spring of 1876, 
when he was returned supernumerary. He has been 
a very useful minister, filling good appointments, — 
some of the best, — and seeing prosperity under his 
watch-care. " God has been very good to me in all 
my stations," he says. "In many of them I saw 
gracious revivals ; to Him be all the glory ! " He 
resides at Thompsonville, Conn. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 57 



CHAPTER X. 

J. E. Gifford. — E. Benton. — E. K. Colby.— E. H. Hatfield. —J. 
Mather. — J. Howson. — A. N. Bodfish. — Revivals. — Church 
enlarged. 

In the spring of 1853, Rev. J. E. Gifford was sta- 
tioned here ; and it was a year of low religious life. 
He was imprudent in some things, and so ~ 
failed to reach the hearts of the people, ^' 
and secure their co-operation. On the record he re- 
ported that sixteen professed religion, and twenty 
were added to the church. Owing to the imperfect 
condition of the record, his return in the minutes, 
of three hundred and forty-one members, was con- 
siderably too large. Probably there were not three 
hundred resident members at the time. 

Brother Gifford located in 1861. 

Then came Rev. Erastus Benton, who remained 
two years. About thirty were converted, or re- 
claimed from a backslidden state, during his Q 
pastorate ; and twenty-four joined the church ^^" 
on probation. Fourteen died, " leaving an evidence 
that death was gain." In his second year, more was 
raised for benevolence than in any previous ft 
year in the history of the church. There ****' 
was general prosperity, and the people were much 
attached to their pastor. He says of them, " They 



58 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

endeared themselves to my heart. It would give me 
great pleasure to see them ; but I must wait till we 
meet in heaven." 

For thirty-four successive years Father Benton 
was in the itinerant field ; twenty-nine of which 
were spent in old Connecticut, and five in Massa- 
chusetts. He always did thorough work, and was 
much beloved on all his charges. He says, " As I 
look back, I find some things to regret, and not a 
few to rejoice over. God has given me many friends, 
and permitted me to see many precious souls saved, 
whom I hope to meet in heaven." He was converted 
in 1815, at a neighborhood prayer-meeting in a pri- 
vate house in Tolland, Conn. In 1832 he received 
a local preacher's license, and began preaching. The 
next year he was received on trial in the New Eng- 
land Conference ; and, when the Providence Con- 
ference was formed, he was one of its members. 
Since 1867 he has held a superannuated relation in 
this body. In feeble health, he awaits the call, 
" Come home." His residence is Stafford Springs, 
Conn. 

Through the next Conference year, a good, healthy 

interest prevailed and increased, while Rev. E. K. 

R - Colby was pastor. His social qualities, 

^ ' rather than his pulpit utterances, made him 

quite popular, and gave him power over the people. 

He knew how to make everybody at home in his 

presence ; and he was familiar with all. He had a 

£ good Christian experience, and considerable 

^*' information gained mostly from observation ; 
and he was plainly the servant of God among this 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 59 

people. In his second year there was an extensive 
revival, in which many were converted. Some 
good accessions to the church came from this work. 

E. K. Colby was born at Epping, N.H., in 1812, 
and converted in 1832. In 1844 he joined the 
Maine Conference, and labored in its ranks till 1855, 
when he was transferred to the Providence Con- 
ference. In 1863 he again returned to Maine ; and 
is now (1876) stationed at Kennebunk Depot. 

Rev. E. H. Hatfield followed Brother Colby in 
1858. His congregations were very large, and he 
made many friends in both societies here. R ~ 
There was no marked revival ; but his labors •* 
were not wholly in vain. His second year was much 
like the first. He seemed to enjoy himself ; R 
and his many attentive hearers attested their ^ y ' 
appreciation of his preaching. He loved fishing 
and hunting, and indulged in them quite freely. 
Some think he has prolonged his life in this way. 
All the social meetings were kept up, and were sea- 
sons of refreshing to those who attended them. 

Brother Hatfield was born and converted at White 
Plains, N.Y. Of the first class of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church in that place, numbering seven, 
his grandparents made four ; and none of them was 
less than fifty years a Methodist. Their names were 
John and Charity Hatfield, and Robert and Margaret 
Miller. Thus educated in Methodism, Brother Hat- 
field commenced preaching in 1846, and in 1848 
joined the Providence Conference ; since which time, 
with the exception of one year, he has been on the 
effective list. 



60 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

Rev. James Mather followed Brother Hatfield, 
and witnessed some prosperity and a few conver- 
_ sions under his labors. He was esteemed 

a true minister of the gospel, and had the 
cordial support of his people. Through much hard 
labor, amid the excitement of the war, he passed his 
Q - second year ; and a very deep seriousness was 
manifested toward its close in the sabbath- 
evening services. The vestry was often crowded 
beyond its seating-capacity, and many were almost 
persuaded to surrender to Jesus; j^et there was no 
break, and in this condition he left them. There 
were two hundred and eighty-two members, and the 
collection for missions was one hundred and six dollars, 

James Mather was born near Manchester, Eng., 
to which city he' removed when young. He was a 
candidate for the Wesleyan Conference, and passed 
the regular examinations at the district meeting ; but, 
on account of the great number of candidates for 
several years, there was a large surplus of ministers,, 
and he was advised by the secretary of the Confer- 
ence, the celebrated Dr. Newton, and Rev. Joseph 
Taylor, one of the ex-presidents, who were his pas- 
tors, to come to the United States, and join the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. Feeling that this was the 
call of God, he acted upon it in 1843, and was at once, 
through the letters of these men, employed under 
Rev. F. Upham, then presiding elder. In 1844 he 
joined the Providence Conference, and was ordained 
deacon with the second class ordained by Bishop 
Janes. He has since been constant in the work, and 
God has been with him. In 1868 he was a delegate 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 61 

to the General Conference. He is now (1876) on 
his fourth year as presiding elder of New Bedford 
District. 

When Rev. John Howson came for his second 
term, he found a very general deep interest in reli- 
gion ; and, under God, he led many to Jesus. ~,- 
Over two hundred bowed at the altar as ear- 
nest seekers ; and, when Conference time came, the 
gracious work had not ceased, and only a few had 
been gathered into the church. By some strange 
mistake, Brother Howson was not returned ; and the 
results were disastrous to many. It was impossible 
for any other man to do among those converts what 
he might have done. " A stranger will they not fol- 
low." The missionary collection was one hundred 
and twent} T -two dollars, and the number of proba- 
tioners fifty-nine. 

Rev. A. N. Bodfish came in 1863, and labored hard 
to feed and fold the lambs. Probably he did all 
that any stranger could do, but only a small R - 
proportion of the converts were saved to the ■*" 

church. For want of room the pew-holders this 
year decided to rebuild their house. Several meet- 
ings were called ; and at last a committee was ap- 
pointed to appraise the old pews, and their report 
was $2,200. These were bought up by brethren who 
were called stockholders. The building-committee 
consisted of Daniel L. Rich, Freeman A. Baker, Al- 
fred Smith, Zoheth Sparrow, and Lewis H. Higgins. 
They raised the building nine feet, and remodelled 
the inside by lowering the singers' gallery, placing 
in it a beautiful organ of Hook's make, — costing 



62 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

81,800, — reseating the audience-room, and frescoing 
the walls, erecting a new pulpit and altar-rail, and 
enlarging and heightening the vestries ; all at an 
expense of $14,500, and making one of the largest 
and most convenient churches on the Cape at that 
time. The pews sold for $19,600, and the stockhold- 
ers presented a good piano for the large vestry, a 
sacramental service, and pulpit-furniture. The dedi- 
catory services were held Dec. 22, 1863 ; and the ser- 
mon was by Rev. J. A. M. Chapman, from Ps. xxvii. 
4. The report for this year shows a membership of 
three hundred and thirteen, with fifty-nine proba- 
tioners. 

In his second year Brother Bodfish had good con- 
gregations, but the life of the church ran low. The 
o ft failure of so many of the converts under 
^ Brother Howson produced a kind of reaction, 
and all that the pastor with his people could do did 
not prevent a low ebb of spiritual life. Twenty-eight 
came into the church, and the missionary collection 
was two hundred and ninety-four dollars. 

Asa N. Bodflsh was born in Barnstable, Mass., and 
converted in Wareham in 1831. He then served the 
church as an exhorter, class-leader, steward, and trus- 
tee, for twenty years. In 1850 he was licensed to 
preach, and the following year joined the Providence 
Conference, of which he has since been an active 
member. A church was built at North Dighton, 
Mass., during his pastorate ; and generally the charges 
which he has served have enjoyed prosperity with 
his labors. He is now (1876) in Mystic Bridge, 
Conn. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 63 



CHAPTER XL 

W. V. Morrison. — Revival. — Charles Nason. — Providence Annual 
Conference held in Wellfleet. — Conversions. — Loss of Schooner 
" Ellery C. Anthony." — Death of Aged Members. 

Rev. W. V. Morrison was the next pastor ; and 
he labored prayerfully and earnestly for two years. 
In a series of extra meetings during the win- s - 
ter of his first year, there were glorious mani- ^* 

festations of the Divine presence. A deep conviction 
of sin was quite general throughout the village, and 
many turned to the Lord. Thirty were received on 
probation ; of whom most were steadfast, and some 
are now among our most reliable members. The 
work also extended to the Congregational Church, 
in which the results were blessed. 

Sixty were added to the Sunday school this year ; 
and the average attendance was two hundred and 
ten. The missionary collection was three hundred 
and twenty-three dollars. 

The second j^ear passed with a healthy religious 
life in the church, but few conversions. A series of 
meetings was held for five weeks with Rev. Q _ - 
L. D. Bentley assisting the pastor ; but the 
apparent results were far below what was antici- 
pated. Brother Bentley's manner of working was 
not generally appreciated ; many could not easily 



64 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

work with him. Brother Morrison labored in these 
services with his characteristic interest and devotion : 
he did what he could. Through the two years he 
was esteemed a good preacher and a faithful pastor. 
Many remember his effectual, fervent prayers. 

In his last quarterly report he says, " I desire here 
to say that, so far as I am concerned, my relations 
with this church have been of the most pleasing 
character. " Kindness has marked the conduct of 
all, both young and old, in the church and out of it, 
toward me. I remember this with gratitude, and 
also the thought that I have, in return, endeavored to 
preach Christ fully, to visit from house to house .as I 
have had opportunity, and to set before all a Chris- 
tian example worthy their imitation. I have come 
short of doing all I wished to do, but have a conscious- 
ness of having endeavored to do the right thing." 

William V. Morrison was born in West Middlesex, 
Penn., and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church 
in May, 1850. He was licensed to preach in 1853, 
and graduated at Alleghany College in 1854, and at 
the Biblical Institute at Concord in 1857. He 
joined the Providence Conference the year he came 
from the Institute, and has been doing good work as 
an itinerant ever since. In 1874 he was appointed 
presiding elder over Fall River District, which place 
he fills at this writing. 

Rev. Charles Nason came the following spring, and 

was well received by the people. He was a true 

Q - minister, faithful in the pulpit and among his 

' * flock. At the first Quarterly Conference, he 

reported that he had called pastorally at every house 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 65 

in town where he had a member, and, when there 
was sickness, many times. During the year there 
was peace and harmony, but not such apparent re- 
sults from the labors of pastor and people as they 
desired. 

A number of interesting neighborhood meetings 
were held during the autumn months, and also a 
three weeks' series of services in the vestry of the 
church, commencing watch-night, in which the people 
of God were greatly quickened ; but not many un- 
converted were reached. Brother Nason did not lose 
a sabbath service in the year, and the church was 
never closed on the sabbath. Nine were received 
from probation. Nine removed by letter, and seven 
died, this year. 

Among those called home, was Brother Knowles 
Dyer, who for about fifty-seven years was a beloved 
and honored member of the church, and most of the 
time was class-leader, steward, and trustee. He left 
many precious testimonies, which are yet treasured 
in many hearts. He had great power in prayer and 
exhortation. A man full of faith and of the Holy 
Ghost, he was ready when the summons came. 

The Providence Annual Conference held its session 
with this church March 25-30, 1868, Bishop Scott 
presiding. It was well attended and cordially RfiR 
entertained. Other families than our own 
entertained the preachers, and did every thing they 
could to make their tarrying here agreeable. ' The 
services in the church were attended by throngs, and 
left a sweet and heavenly influence among the people. 
A banquet was given the Conference Monday even- 
ing, which all seemed to enjoy. 



66 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

At this Conference, Brother Nason was re-ap- 
pointed, and entered upon another year of labor for 
the promotion of the best interest of the church and 
the Redeemer's kingdom. Larger results were seen 
this year. In one month, twenty-three bowed at the 
altar as seekers of religion ; and all of them professed 
conversion. One sabbath morning eleven were bap- 
tized, nineteen were received on probation, and five 
into full membership. 

From a quarterly report given Dec. 3, we extract 
the following : — 

"As it will be a year, in a few days, since, the 
schooner 4 Ellery C. Anthony' sailed from Newport 
Harbor, for Tangier Sound, I suppose we are under 
the painful necessity of admitting that she must 
have been lost with all on board. Capt. William 
H. Higgins, and William Newcomb, jun., were both 
highly respected members of this church. They were 
called suddenly, but, we trust, were prepared for their 
change. 

*' We rest our expectation not upon any dying tes- 
timony, but upon about twenty-five years of Chris- 
tian experience, in which they exemplified those traits 
of character which only proceed from regenerate 
hearts. Not only their families, but our church and 
community, are deeply afflicted by this sad bereave- 
ment." 

John Harding died in this conference year, aged 
seventy-four years and nine months. For forty-eight 
years he was a noble servant of God, always at his 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 67 

post, doing good service. For him death had no 
sting. He passed calmly and triumphantly to be 
with Jesus. 

Father Henry Baker was also called home in the 
eighty-third year of his age. He had been connected 
with this church fifty-three years ; and her interests 
never held a secondary place in his heart. He was 
much revered as a father in Israel. In full assurance 
of hope, washed in the precious blood, he went to 
the Saviour and the loved ones gone before ; and 
there awaits his children, who are travelling after 
him in the narrow way. 

Charles Nason was born in Kennebunk, Me., in 
1822, and was converted and joined the church in 
1842. In 1848 he was received into the Maine Con- 
ference as a probationer, and appointed to Gray and 
Windham Circuit. Instead of taking an appointment 
the next year, he entered our first theological school, 
the Biblical Institute at Concord, N.H., from which 
he graduated in 1851, with the second class from that 
institution, and the first receiving a regular diploma. 
In 1852 he came into the Providence Conference, 
and has since been in its ranks. For three years he 
was chaplain in the Union armj^, and one year pre- 
siding elder on the Norwich District. For the last 
three years (1871-76) he has been appointed chap- 
lain and agent of the Rhode Island Hospital. A 
good man, he has been a blessing to many churches. 



68 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 



CHAPTER XII. 

Walter Ela. — A. J. Church. — C. S. Macreading. — Revival. 

Rev. Walter Ela came to Wellfleet in the spring 
of 1869, and his year with this people was one of hard 
g,. labor and but little success. A few were con- 
y * verted, and joined the church ; and some of 
the members were richly blessed in the great efforts 
which were made for the good of souls. Yet there 
was not that general interest, on the part of those who 
should have supported their pastor, which he hoped 
to see. The sabbath school was very well sustained, 
and the benevolent collections were good. On the 
roll of the deceased this year are the names of Reu- 
ben Higgins, Joshua Hamblen, jun. (more than thirty 
years a member), Joseph Baker, and Joshua Hamblen. 
The last named was eighty-six years of age, and had 
been in this church for over fifty-two years. He out- 
lived his wife and all of his eleven children, and waited 
patiently for his call, " Come home." 

Brother Ela was converted at the Maine Wesleyan 
Seminary, at Kent's Hill, in 1852. He was first 
licensed to preach at Decatur, 111., in the autumn of 
1858, and came into the Providence Conference in 
the spring of 1861. In a very good list of appoint- 
ments, he has served the church well ; and is now 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 69 

(1876) toiling hard for the Master in South Manches- 
ter, Conn. 

Rev. A. J. Church followed Brother Ela ; and, al- 
though through most of the first year the religious 
life was quite low, towards its close there T o / _ n 
was a great reviving and ingathering. The 
Wellfleet people took little interest in the camp- 
meeting after its removal from Eastham. This year 
the pastor, in his persistent way, procured good tents 
and a place to put them up ; and over fifty of his flock 
went with him to enjoy the meeting at Yarmouth. 

Some little time after the new year came in, Hugh 
Montgomery of New Hampshire came on the invita- 
tion of the pastor, and preached every evening and 
Sunday for twelve days ; then the pastor, sustained 
by the church, carried on the meetings for five weeks, 
and about one hundred gave an evidence of having 
received the Saviour. One stormy Sunday morn- 
ing, twenty-nine presented themselves at the altar 
for baptism ; 296 members, with 105 probationers, 
were reported. The collection for missions was 8320. 

The second year of Brother Church's ser- ~ 
vices was one of business depression, such as 
this people have often seen ; and it always seems to 
affect the energy of the people in Christian work. 
Yet there was considerable activity and some growth. 
During the extra meetings held, twelve seekers bowed 
at the altar. Sixty joined in full membership during 
the year, and nineteen were baptized. 

The third year which Brother Church spent « 
here was not a harvest year, but much like ' 
the second. He was granted a leave of absence for 



70 « . HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

a tour in Europe, which he improved well. For 
about four and a half months he was away from his 
people ; and, although the pulpit was supplied, they 
felt the need of a pastor with them. There were a 
few conversions, and some additions to the church, 
but not enough to make good the losses by removal 
and death. 

No protracted meeting was held ; and the reaction 
from the revival two years before, with the business 
depression, made the work go heavily. The Sunday 
school was prosperous, and the singing in all the ser- 
vices was greatly improved. 

A. J. Church was converted in 1844, while kneel- 
at a bench in a schoolhouse beside his mother. In 
1846 he began teaching, which profession he followed, 
attending school a part of the time, for five years. 
Then he spent six months as a supply at Carthage, 
N.Y. In 1852 he entered the Biblical Institute at 
Concord, and graduated two years later. He joined 
the Maine Conference on probation in 1858, having 
then been preaching within its bounds three years. 
In 1862 he was transferred to the New Hampshire 
Conference, and again in 1868 to the Providence 
Conference. 

At Stafford Springs, Conn., he is now (1876) 
preaching, and doing all the work of an efficient 
pastor. 

Rev. Charles S. Macreading, who came after 

Brother Church, very soon won a place in the hearts 

R of all the people. He had been a sailor, and 

*•*" seemed particularly adapted to work among 
such a people. He made a great many calls, report- 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 71 

ing, one quarter, one hundred and eighty-five ; and 
mingled among the people generally very freely. 
Although there was no revival, and no conversions 
were reported this year, few ministers in Wellfleet 
have made so many personal friends. 

His wife, now a widow, is a most amiable and 
efficient woman ; and her presence and labors were 
highly appreciated here. The latter part of the 
year, the Congregational Church was without a pas- 
tor ; and Brother Macreading visited quite largely in 
that society, and attended all the sick and dying. 
So in both churches here, and among many who 
seldom attend church, he was much beloved. 

His second year was much like the first, marked 
by business depression and low life in the church. 
There were, however, a few conversions. R 
The pastor worked hard for the church and '^' 
the unconverted, but something seemed to prevent 
the full enjoyment of that for which he labored and 
prayed. Brother Littlefield, with others from the 
State Committee of the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation, spent a little time here in union services ; 
but the moving, melting power was not realized. 
After all their faithful presentation of the truth, 
and earnest prayers with the hearty co-operation of 
both pastors, only a few unconverted were reached ; 
and in our church there was no general awakening. 
Brother Macreading felt sad over this ; yet he knew 
it was not his fault. He tried to do all in his power, 
by prayer and personal and public effort. He went 
from here at the end of this year, with the love of 
all who had known him. 



72 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

Charles S. Macreading was born in Marshfield, 
Mass., in 1834 ; the son of Rev. C. S. Macreading, 
formerly of the Providence and the New England 
Conferences. He was converted while a student at 
Wilbraham Academy, and received a license to 
preach while in college at Middletown, Conn. In 
1860 he joined the New England Conference, but 
soon entered the naval service of the United States ; 
and when honorably discharged he occupied the 
position of master's mate. In 1865 he joined the 
Providence Conference, and served in its ranks to 
the day of his death, at Middleboro', Mass., May, 
1875. Our whole community was moved when the 
tidings of his death came to us. Many prayers were 
offered from our church and from our Christian 
homes, for the sadly bereaved widow and the two 
lovely daughters. With them we look forward to 
the reunion of heaven. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 73 



CHAPTER XIII. 



A. P. Palmer. 



There were few indications of an increasing in- 
terest for the first eight months of the next year. The 
pastor, A. P. Palmer, tried to lead the church ~ 
nearer to Gocl ; but the embarrassments oc- ' ^* 
casioned by the removal and death of his predecessor, 
and the failure of our one line of business, made it 
hard work. There were, however, some true hearts 
who were constant in prayer, and every possible effort 
to help him ; and together they prayed and toiled on, 
with faith in God. The last two weeks of the cal- 
endar year were weeks of prayer. On four days in 
each, besides Sunday, we held services afternoon and 
evening. There was no preaching ; but we made an 
effort to secure as large an attendance as possible, and 
then talked, sung, and prayed together. Through 
a close self-examination, which led to confession and 
full consecration, we drew nigh unto God ; and he 
drew nigh unto us. No seekers presented themselves 
during these two weeks ; but many professors were 
filled with the Spirit. The Congregational Church 
also held similar meetings, so that when on the 4th of 
January, Brothers Littlefield and Shaw came among 
us, we were in some measure prepared to labor with 
them for souls. Under their labors both churches 



74 HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 

were greatly blessed, and in those two days about 
forty said, " Pray for us." The work thus begun 
continued for several weeks in union services, and in 
the separate churches, until over one hundred and 
twenty-five professed conversion. Most of these were 
young people, and many young ladies. About fifty 
united with our church, on probation. 

The Committee on Records reduced the member- 
ship in the returns this year, by putting "Removed 
without letter " opposite some twenty-seven names. 
These persons have been out of town for several 
years, and do not contemplate returning for a resi- 
dence : they are no help to us financially, or in any 
way except as they pray for us. We counted only 
the resident members. 

The same servant was returned from the next 
R - annual Conference, and, thus far this year, 

' has been doing what he could for Christ and 
this church. Up to this writing (January, 1877) 
there has been no great ingathering. Some have 
professed conversion, and a fair proportion of the 
converts of last year have been received into full 
membership. A weekly young people's meeting has 
been sustained through the year, and has proved a 
means of grace to many. Some of these converts 
have removed to other places ; and some are trying 
to live religion without coming into the church, and 
they have met with the usual success in such cases. 
But those who came right forward, fully determined 
to use all the means given, are doing well, and 
promise much to the church. 

All our social meetings are well sustained, except 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 75 

the classes. Here, as in other places, there has been 
a growing tendency for some years to neglect the 
class-meeting. Oh that all might see how much 
they lose by such neglect ! We hope by personal 
effort to secure a return to the old paths. 

CONCLUSION. 

Having thus glanced over a period of nearly eighty 
years, and seventy-five years of actual church history, 
we are impressed that God has given his peculiar 
blessings here, and few churches in our Conference 
or in the Old Bay State have had greater prosperity. 

There have been sixteen notable revivals, and 
some of them were seasons of great power. Hun- 
dreds have been converted, and there has been an 
unusual degree of spiritual life. Our present mem- 
bership (January, 1877) is two hundred and eighty- 
seven, with twenty-five probationers. But if the 
children could have been kept at home, as in many 
other churches, our numbers would be very much 
larger. It has been the work of this church to 
raise up men and women to serve other churches. 
In Philadelphia, especially in one church, Wellfleet 
has a very good representation. In the churches of 
Boston and New York and many other cities in all 
directions, Wellfleet's sons and daughters are found 
in no inconsiderable numbers. It has been said, 
" Take Cape Cod Methodism out of Boston, and there 
would not be much left." We say, Take the souls 
which were born in Wellfleet out of some of these 
churches, and they would feel the loss. It is a com- 
fort to the fathers and mothers who are living, and an 



76 



HISTORY M. E. CHURCH, 



honor to those who are in heaven, that their children 
are standing so nobly for Christ wherever they 
reside. 

Wellfleet has an interest in the Boston University. 
Isaac Rich was born in Wellfleet, and his mother was 
a very highly esteemed member of this church. He 
was never a member here, because his father removed 
to Boston, like many others, for business' sake, when 
he was quite young. One sister is now of our flock, 
and a brother lives in the south part of the town. 

Brotherly love has characterized this people, as the 
words of many of their ministers attest. Oh that 
it may dwell in the hearts of all the members more 
and more, that, as in former days, they may unitedly 
seek to extend the Saviour's kingdom ! The days of 
power and glory are not passed. The work which 
God has given to this church is not yet finished. If 
the talents which she has are sanctified and devel- 
oped, if there is pure faith and unity, the future shall 
be like the past, only more glorious. 

The following is a list of the preachers, with the 
years of their services : — 



Joel Steele . 
Erastus Otis . 
Joseph A. Merrill 
Robert Arnold 
Elias Marble 
Bartholomew Otheman 
Thomas C. Peirce 
Orin Roberts . 
Benjamin Keith . 
Ephraim Wiley 
Edward Hyde 



1807. 

. 1808. 

1809-10-11. 

. 1812. 

1813. 
. 1814. 

1815. 
. 1816. 

1817. 

1818-19. 

. 1820-21. 



WELLFLEET, MASS. 



11 



Leonard Bennett . 
S. G. Atkins . 
Lewis Bates . 
Joel Steele 
B. F. Lambord 
N. S. Spaulding . 
S. B. Hascall . 
Hector Brownson 
"Warren Emerson , 

B. F. Lambord . 
He man Perry. 

I. M. BlDWELL 1 . 

Paul Townsexd 
Jonathan Cady . 
G. W. Stearns 
John Lovejoy 
Cyrus C. Hunger . 
Samuel Fox. 
joh>* howson . 

J. E. GlFFORD 

Erastus Benton 
E. K. Colby. 
E. H. Hatfield 
James Mather 
John Hows on . 
A. N. Bodfish 
William V. Morrison 
Charles Nason . 
Walter El a . 
A. J. Church 

C. S. Macreading . 
A. P. Palmer 



1822-23. 

1824. 

1825-26. 

1827-28. 
1829-30. 

1831. 
. 1832. 

1833. 
1834-35. 

1836. 
1837-38. 

1839. 
1840-41. 
1842-43. 
1844-45. 
1846-47. 
. 1848. 
1849-50. 
1851-52. 

1853. 

1854-55. 

1856-57. 

1858-59. 

1860-61. 

. 1862. 

1863-64. 

1865-66. 

1867-68. 

. 1869. 

1870-71-72. 

1873-74. 

. 1875-76. 



1 Horace Moulton finished out the year. 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX. 



THE GROSS FAMILY. 

The Gross family, to which several allusions have 
been made, were so prominent in our Methodism 
that we append the following brief statements : — 

Thomas Gross was a deacon in the Congregational 
Church when his wife Abigail was in our first class 
of 1802; but he came with her a few years later. 
They had fourteen children, of whom thirteen grew 
up to manhood and womanhood, and all were con- 
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
ten daughters were members of the Wellfleet church. 
These " ten sisters," as they were called, met in 
Boston in 1850, for a family visit, their ages then 
ranging from eighty-three to fifty-nine. The group 
was daguerrotyped ; and many have looked with 
peculiar interest at the picture of the venerable 
Christian ladies. They were all singers, all married, 
and all but one had children. One was the wife of 
Rev. Elijah Willard, and another of Rev. Bartholo- 
mew Otheman. The first wife of Rev. Joel Steele 
was the granddaughter of Thomas and Abigail Gross, 
and the daughter of one of the "ten sisters." The 
first wife of Rev. Abel Stevens, LL.D., was another 



82 APPENDIX. 

granddaughter of the first Gross family, and daughter 
of another of the " ten sisters." 

Only two of the fourteen children are now living, 
— Maria Atkins, in Truro, Mass., aged eighty-three 
years ; and Deborah Payne, in Provincetown, Mass., 
aged eighty-seven years. One died in childhood. 
Of the other eleven who have died, all but one lived 
to be eighty-five years of age, or over ; and all died 
in the triumphs of Christian faith. 

The descendants are numerous, and the blood is 
still pure. Almost all of them are Christians, and 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

SOUTH WELLFLEET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Perhaps some further mention should be made of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church in South Wellfleet. 

The old members have all deceased, and the records 
cannot be found ; and, after making considerable 
effort, only these few facts could be gathered. 

A church was dedicated in 1835, by Rev. Enoch 
Bradley, preacher in charge at North Truro. When 
a class was organized, or how many members there 
were when they built the house, cannot be ascer- 
tained. In 1836 the first pastor, Rev. Frariklin Fisk, 
was sent. This was his first appointment ; and he 
was almost pressed into this by Father Webb, the 
presiding elder, and some other members of the 
Conference. He had been teaching on Martha's 
Vineyard, with the design of entering the Wesleyan 
University ; but gave up this plan, and went to 
Conference at Springfield, Mass., having a recom- 
mendation. 



APPENDIX. 83 

After receiving his appointment he says, " My 
journey thither, and contact with my first acquaint- 
ances, are as much of a romance as any thing told by 
the author of the 4 Circuit Rider.' ' Twenty-eight 
members were reported at the close of the year. 

The next year South Wellfleet was coupled with 
Eastham, " one to be supplied." In the fall or early 
winter, the presiding elder sent one Brother Lawton 
(his full name we do not learn), as a supply to this 
church. Through Brother Fisk we learn that he 
had been a resident of one of the Southern States, a 
lawyer, an avowed sceptic, and editor of an infidel 
paper. By some means being aroused to a sense of 
his real condition and the truth of Christianity, and 
realizing the embarrassments he would meet in dis- 
closing his convictions among his old associates, he 
fled to the North, making a stand at New Bedford. 
Immediately he made his mission known to the 
Methodist ministers and people of that place ; and, 
when the time of the Vineyard camp-meeting came, 
he accompanied them to that meeting, as an earnest 
seeker of religion. Though the place and most of 
the people were strange to him, he was forward in 
asking all Christians to pray for him ; and in such a 
way, and with so much earnestness, as to awaken 
deep sympathy and fervent prayer in every heart. 
It was not a long struggle : he was soon very hap- 
pily converted, — falling to the ground, and lying 
for some time apparently insensible. Soon after his 
conversion, he was sent to South Wellfleet, but, for 
some unknown reason, remained only a few months. 
Some say he went into the practice of law. 



84 APPENDIX. 

In 1838 Rev. Anthony Palmer was the pastor, and it 
was also his first appointment. He saw some prosper- 
ity, — at least twenty-five souls converted in the year. 
" My salary," he says, " was one hundred dollars 
clean cash. My board cost me nothing, as I ' boarded 
round.' " 

In 1839 Rev. C. A. Carter was sent to South 
Wellfleet, and Brother A. Palmer to South Yar- 
mouth ; but by a subsequent arrangement these 
appointments were reversed, and Brother Palmer 
remained in South Wellfleet. This year he had the 
same salary as before, and fifteen were converted. 

Then for three years this appointment was again 
coupled with Eastham. In 1849 Rev. T. B. Gurney 
was pastor of the South Wellfleet Church ; and in 
1850 and 1851, Rev. J. B. Hunt. Then it was again 
put with Eastham, until it disappears from the min- 
utes. Several years ago the building, which had 
been long unoccupied, was sold and moved away. 
One of the pastors says, u A few faithful brethren 
built that church for their children ; but these chil- 
dren, when they grew up, went to other parts. I 
was interested, as a pastor should be, in the property 
of the society ; but my conviction was that the build- 
ing of that church was a mistake ; " and so it proved. 



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